With Emily in Year 3, we are just entering the deep, dark world of hardcore homework. Until now we only had reading every evening, and spelling and maths on the weekends. But the serious stuff is starting to come ... and can I say one thing? I would rather be sleep deprived and change a thousand dirty nappies than try to figure out the new maths.
Hubby was away somewhere sunny, so we went to Pizza Express (no I'm not bitter about this). We got home about 7 and my plan was to give the girls a bath and then let them chill out and watch TV for an hour.
Then I remembered about homework.
Do you have any homework?
I can't find it.
When is it due?
Thursday.
As in tomorrow morning Thursday?
Blank stare that meant you should know this already mummy.
It must be here, let me look (I found it folded between the PTA plea for a new chair and a notice about head lice).
We sat at the kitchen table staring at the piece of paper. It had about ten double digit equations on it. That part was easy. Next to the equations were lines, with humps and crosses and, my god it's late...
Do you remember how to do this? What did Mr. Wong say?
Blank look that meant I don't remember.
I looked at the piece of paper again. The thing about having kids is that you lose 10 percent of your brain cells with each birth. I had three children in quick succession, which means I doubled the loss because my brain never had a chance to recover. If you do the maths, that means I've lost ... let me see, three children, that's 30 percent, now double that ... See, now you have some insight on why I can't figure out this damn homework.
It was close to 8 pm and I felt my pulse between my eyes. What's wrong with just adding numbers the old way? We cobbled together some answers. Didn't touch the number line though. Not a clue.
So have y'all figured out number lines yet? Is it just me?!







